Cairn Gorm

Munro

This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.

Altitude

1244 m (4081 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.

NJ00560407

An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.

Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.

Meaning

Blue cairn like peak

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

Description

Cairn Gorm has many ridges on its N and W slopes giving rise to a series of corries. Of these Coire Cas and Coire na Ciste are scarred by ski equipment and debris and are best avoided unless you are in a hurry, in which case you may as well use the ski lift.

To the S and E are steep slopes some craggy leading to Loch Avon and Strath Nethy.

Cairn Gorm can be ascended from Coire an Lochain and Cairn Lochan to the SW, Ben Macdui to the SSW, Loch Avon to the S or from the N ridges of Cairn Gorm, all of which offer better views.

Hazards you may encounter on Cairn Gorm include

Crags within 1km of summit.

General Considerations

Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.

Wind usually increases with altitude.

Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.

River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.

Picture Gallery for Cairn Gorm

Cairngorm showing the cairn (left) and the weather station on the skyline taken from the slopes of the un-named 1176 top between Cairngorm and Cairn Lochan.

Post a few words about Cairn Gorm or read what others have had to say.

Comments

Leon Mooneywrote on
August 11, 2009

Climbed on 10/8/09. This was my third and final outing of a weekend up north. Starting at the car park I took the path towards Coire an t-Sneachda in poor visibility . I left the path and scrambled up the steepest section of Fiacaill a' Choire Chais, then followed the path to a large cairn, which I briefly mistook for the summit, until I realised there was no weather station. Made the final climb to the actual summit before heading off to the Ptarmigan and back to the car.

Kurt Lancasterwrote on
June 28, 2005

Mine and my fiance's first munro in feb 05. Wot a day, snow every where all you could see was snow. Waist deep snow. We started from the bottom of the ski lift and worked out way up to the top following the ski lift above. Visabilty was very poor so we used the lift as a good marker. Top class day got some mega pics will put on internet in the next couple of months.

Andy Johnswrote on
March 7, 2004

June 1995 and my first Munro, although I never found out what munros were until later. A long pull up the track from the Coire Cas car-park with full pack - 3-man tent, stove, etc on a fabulously hot day. Blue sky and lots of big snow patches. Big traverse over Cairn Lochan, Ben Macdui & Derry Cairngorm and down to camp at Derry Lodge where I was meeting up with a friend (who had left a car at the Linn of Dee for the return trip, of course). A totally inspirational first day out walking over the big hills of Scotland.

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

You can prepare your own write up by first making an entry in your route log and then visiting the logging section above.